Dine and Recline: The Talbot Inn in Somerset

Tradition meets state-of-the-art hospitality at the Talbot Inn in Somerset: fish-and-chips, venison stew, and ale on tap, plus Egyptian cotton sheets, handmade soap, and Siberian goose down duvets. A venture of hotelier Nick Jones of Soho House fame, The Talbot is located in the village of Mells in Somerset, two hours from London by train. Once a traditional coaching inn for horse-powered travelers, it's now a gastronomic destination with two restaurants and eight bedrooms for overnight guests.
The inn earned a 2015 Bib Gourmand award, which Michelin presents to restaurants offering exceptional food at modest prices. The pub serves top-notch versions of English staples such as savory pies and beer from local breweries Butcombe and Keystone in addition to its own Talbot Ale. The grill room, open on weekends, serves fish and meat cooked simply over fire—“the way country inns cooked hundreds of years ago."
The best part? The Talbot's moderate prices: Rooms start at £95 ($143.47) year-round, hearty breakfast included. For more information, visit the Talbot Inn .
Above: The Talbot is down to earth (despite the fact that it hosted the Rolling Stones' entourage for a concert two autumns ago); village locals and overnight guests are equally welcome, and no weddings are allowed—they're too disruptive to the everyday ebb and flow.
Above: What is now the inn's sitting room was a "tythe barn"—storage for regional agricultural taxes—500 years ago. The wall mural depicts the history of Mells—from Neolithic tombs to medieval castles to the country homes of architect Edward Lutyens. One part shows fairy tale characters including Little Jack Horner—purportedly the ancestor of Mells's notable Horner family—who according to legend plucked out the title to Mells Manor from a pie intended for Henry VIII.
Above: Each of the inn's eight bedrooms has Egyptian cotton sheets, Siberian goose down duvets, and vintage Welsh blankets. Artwork in the bedrooms and hallways is by local Mells artists.
Above: Small luxuries include sheepskin rugs and comfy chairs in the bath.
Above: Floors are covered in aromatic seagrass matting.
Above: Soaking tubs and wool-covered water bottles.
Above: The Talbot produces its own line of handmade, all-natural bath products called Bramley , available for purchase online.
Above: Brass candlesticks add a glimmer to the interiors.
Above: Behind the pub, a cobblestone courtyard sports cafe tables and even umbrellas for the occasional sunny day in Somerset. Guests and locals alike can play pétanque on the nearby court.
Planning a trip to the UK? See:
Remodelista Travel Guide: United Kingdom
Gardenista Travel Guide: United Kingdom
A Day at London's Grandest Brasserie
Drink Up: The Draper's Arms
More Stories from Remodelista
Raw Yet Refined: Carlo e Camilla in Milan
Living the Life: 11 Farmhouse Rentals in Italy
Raw in Milan, a Cabinet of Curiosities